“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be not quick in your spirit to become angry,for anger lodges in the heart of fools.” Ecclesiastes 7:8-9 (ESV)

For any of you who knew me well, you know that patience is not my strong suit. It does not come naturally to me. I prefer a quick ending to a thing, to any thing. I like to be on time, and I like others to be on time, too. I hate to be kept waiting. I like to hear “the point” of a story right from the start, so that I can enjoy a long, detailed tale.

But I’m learning that this is just not the Lord’s way. His way is long. His way requires patience and waiting. He rarely tells you how the story is gonna end right from the start.

And I’m learning that wanting things on my time line is, at its heart, pride. This pride leads me to prefer myself and my ways over His and this pride leads to anger.

And anger lodges in the heart of fools. It rests there.

But, I am no fool.

God has given me wisdom, by His Spirit and His Word, and I pray that wisdom would give me a heart filled with patience, not pride, not a quick spirit, not anger.